Posts made in October, 2013

Every part of your body is important and that includes your joints. Your joints support your body weight and it allows you to move. Since you use your joints every day, you can expect it to go through a lot of stress. Even if they are meant to cope with stress, there will come a point when they will be worn out. As a result, you will experience joint pain. Joint pain is experienced by people all over the world. The state of Maryland is no exception. It has lots of citizens who are dealing with the discomfort. These people are found all over the state from Rockville to Olney and even to Montgomery Village and German Town. Joint pain is never comfortable. Thus, you should deal with it as soon as possible. Also, you should be aware of the various ways to prevent any kind of joint pain. Here are some ways to prevent and relieve joint pain. Apply an ice pack Joint pain MD can be relieved with ice therapy. The low temperature reduces blood flow to the inflamed area, thereby reducing the swelling. The moment you experience pain, be sure to apply an ice pack. Put it over the affected area as often as you can during the first day. However, the ice pack should only be in place for a maximum of 15 minutes at a time. On the following day, use the ice pack 4 to 5 times only, still 15 minutes each. This simple intervention is effective in relieving joint pain. Just make sure that you put the ice inside a towel to prevent ice burns. Warm water therapy Warm water can also relieve joint pain MD. It eases the pressure on your joints as well as your muscles. A warm bath can alleviate the pain as it stimulates the flow of blood. Get a good massage If you have joint pain in the hips or in your knees, get a good massage. Anyone at home can do it. You may also go for a professional. A mentrub can help ease the pain and should be rubbed on the affected area. Take medications There are medications that are meant to relieve joint pain Rockville MD. You have Ibuprofen, which is the choice of many when it comes to joint pain. NSAIDs or your non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also available. These drugs relieve the stiffness and swelling. If you experience muscle spasms, your doctor may have to prescribe you with muscle relaxants. There are many ways to prevent and relieve joint pain. As simple as immobilizing the area and taking a rest can really help. If you want to stay away from the discomfort, it would help to perform stretching and exercises because they can increase your strength and make your joints more flexible. Although there are easy ways to alleviate the pain, there are also some cases when it is best to approach a doctor. You will find a lot of doctors in Maryland who are ready to help you. Pick one that has extensive experience and is an expert in dealing with joint...

Suffering a stroke has never been one of the most pleasurable moments in one’s life. Then again, it does not mean that you should live in misery just because you suffered a stroke. Remember that millions of people out there have gone through the same ordeal. There is hope and that hope can be found in stroke rehab. Stroke rehab is available everywhere including Rockville, Germantown, Montgomery Village, and Olney. Maryland is a place where you can find a lot of stroke survivors. You can be one of these people and you can lead a better life if stroke rehabilitation is successful. Why is stroke rehab important? First of all, it allows you to gain independence and become productive once again. Of course, the level of productivity will depend on the a couple of factors such as the extent of damage caused to the brain, the skill of the team handling the rehab, the support of family and friends, and the time rehab has started. Your recovery is different from another person’s recovery. Also, you have to keep in mind that it is a process. It will not happen overnight. You will see progress as you go through your stroke rehab MD. Second, it improves your outlook on life. When you are weak, you have balance problems, or you can barely move an extremity, it is easy for you to lose hope and feel that life is meaningless. Stroke rehab MD can change that perception. The independence you gain from the rehabilitation process helps you realize that there is still a beautiful life waiting for you after the stroke. Third, it helps prevent another stroke from occurring. When you have had a stroke, your chances of getting another one immediately increases. Although there are risk factors that are non-modifiable such as your age, there are also some risk factors that can be modified. Smoking, for instance, predisposes you to another stroke. But it is one thing you can stop doing. Stroke rehab MD is not just about helping you gain independence. It also involves changing your lifestyle to lower your chances of suffering another stroke. There are several kinds of stroke rehab MD programs available. Hospital, home-based, and outpatient programs are offered in Rockville, Germantown, Montgomery Village, and Olney. Long-term care facilities that offer therapy are also found in these places. Stroke rehab MD can be handled by one or several specialists. Physicians including physciatrists, neurologists, and internist may have a role in the program. Nurses that specialize in caring for individuals with disabilities, rehabilitation nurses, are likewise needed during stroke rehab. Other specialists that may take part in the program include occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, and even therapeutic recreation specialists. Stroke rehab MD wants you to live a normal life. A lot of people have developed depression after stroke. When depression sets in, they are no longer willing to work on their recovery. Recovering after a stroke can be quite challenging, but it is not impossible. With the right attitude and with the support of family and friends, you can still enjoy your life even after suffering a...

Falls are common amongst the elderly. When a senior suffers from a fall, he or she can get injured. Falls can cause bruises, dislocations, and fractures. Although hospital admissions caused by falls are quite common in Rockville MD as well as in German Town, Montgomery Village, and Olney, it does not mean that you can just stay lenient and let any elderly living in your abode suffer from a fall. How to avoid falls There are a lot of ways to prevent falls in the elderly. One is to let them improve their balance and strength. This can be pretty difficult considering that seniors tend to be weaker than younger people. Letting seniors take part in simple exercise programs can help. Rather than letting them be a couch potato, you can always encourage the elderly to exercise. Of course, it should not go overboard. They should only be performing exercises that their bodies can still tolerate. More importantly, they should be overlooked by another able-bodied individual. Falls can also be prevented by letting the elderly wear comfortable shoes. Also, it should fit them well. Make sure that it does not have heels. If possible, let them wear shoes that come with slip-resistant soles. This simple measure can go a long way. Improving safety inside the house Fall prevention requires you to apply safety measures inside your house. The first thing to do is to ensure that there is sufficient lighting. Night lights should be available. Furthermore, you should add lighting fixtures near the bathroom or near the staircase. There are also very simple ways to prevent falls such as removing clutter and ensuring the pathways are clear. Look for carpets that have holes or threads. You can repair or replace them. Remember that worn areas in your carpets can cause seniors to slip. You should also make use of sturdy beds and chairs. Seniors should not have a hard time getting in and out of them. Watch out for sharp corners and get rid of tables and chairs that have them. It is also advisable to use internal doors that do not have locks. Make sure that they can be easily opened. As for external doors, they should be easy to lock. This way, an elderly person will not have a hard time opening and closing doors. If there are spills, wipe them right away. As much as possible, you should keep an eye on a senior when he or she goes to the bathroom. Replacing towel rails with grab rails is likewise a good idea. What to do when a senior suffers from a fall Don’t panic. That is the most important thing to keep in mind. Panicking will cause more trouble and can add to the senior’s anxiety. Call for help. If no one is there to help you, you may contact a local doctor or call 911. If it appears like a minor fall and something you can handle on your own, help the senior get up. Assess the situation and see if further assistance is...

Musculoskeletal pain is very common that everyone experiences it numerous times in his or her entire lifetime. Even the little things you do every day can cause muscle pain and aches all over your body. Despite being a minor discomfort, musculoskeletal pain can ruin your day and make you unproductive. So the moment you feel any kind of discomfort, make sure to deal with it right away. There are effective methods that can help you get rid of musculoskeletal pain. These methods apply to anyone including those in Rockville, Germantown, Montgomery Village, and Olney. Here are some pain-relief measures to keep in mind. Relieve musculoskeletal pain MD with RICE Relieving musculoskeletal pain MD can be done with RICE. RICE is an acronym that stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Always remember the acronym so the next time you feel any kind of pain, you will know what to do. It may be a simple intervention, but it does help a lot. Deal with musculoskeletal pain MD with NSAIDs NSAIDs are pain relievers that also reduce inflammation. The most popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that you can buy over-the-counter include naproxen, aspirin, and ibuprofen. NSAIDs can also lower your fever and prevent the formation of blood clots. These medications are considered first-line treatments since they reduce inflammation, a key reason why one feels pain. Apply topical analgesics whenever you feel any kind of musculoskeletal pain MD You can find creams, ointments, gels, and lotions that help reduce pain. Rub it on the skin where you feel the discomfort. Some of these products work by interfering with certain chemical transmissions in the body, particularly those that send pain signals. Consider physiatry, occupational therapy, or physical therapy If the pain is almost unbearable or it already prevents you from doing certain things, you may have to rely on physiatry. Through physiatry, you will not only experience pain relief, but injuries that are limiting your ability to move and function will also be treated. On the other hand, occupational and physical therapy focuses on restoring your range of motion. It also helps in strengthening the body. Musculoskeletal pain MD can be relieved with osteopathic manipulation therapy (OMT) Osteopathic manipulation therapy or OMT is done by an osteopathic physician to relieve musculoskeletal pain MD. It also helps increase a person’s range of motion as well as promote healing. Inflamed tissues and muscle spasms cause pain and OMT relieves the discomfort through stretching and gentle pressure. The procedure is known to be most effective in relieving neck and back pain. Musculoskeletal pain MD can affect your everyday living and make you unproductive. Whether you are in Rockville, Germantown, Montgomery Village, or Olney, you should never take this condition for granted. There are ways to get rid of the pain and you merely need to be aware of these methods. Do not ignore the discomfort you feel as this will only worsen the situation. The best thing you can do is to deal with every musculoskeletal pain as soon as it...